US may soon pause preparations for delivery of F-35 to Turkey

The United States could soon freeze preparations for delivering F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, Report informs citing the  TASS.

"There (are) decisions that come up constantly about things being delivered in anticipation of them eventually taking custody of the planes," acting Assistant Secretary of Defense Katie Wheelbarger said.

 “So there’s a lot of things in train that can be paused to send signals to them (that we’re serious)" she added without detailing those steps.

Turkey intends to purchase at least 100 F-35 Lightining II. The purchase is made under the multinational program of development of F-35 under the auspices of the United States, to which Ankara joined in 2002. US Congress previously stated that it intends to suspend the supply of Turkish fighters due to Ankara's plans to purchase the S-400.

Earlier, a ceremony on delivering of the first two F-35 Turkey was held in the American company Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas.